Section 2905 Of Article 1. Commencement Of Term From California Penal Code >> Title 1. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 7. >> Article 1.
2905
. (a) For purposes of this section, a "youth offender" is an
individual committed to the Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation who is under 22 years of age.
(b) (1) The department shall conduct a youth offender
Institutional Classification Committee review at reception to provide
special classification consideration for every youth offender. The
youth offender Institutional Classification Committee shall consist
of the staff required by department regulations at any Institutional
Classification Committee, however at least one member shall be a
department staff member specially trained in conducting the reviews.
Training shall include, but not be limited to, adolescent and young
adult development and evidence-based interviewing processes employing
positive and motivational techniques.
(2) The purpose of the youth offender Institutional Classification
Committee review is to meet with the youth offender and assess the
readiness of a youth offender for a lower security level or placement
permitting increased access to programs and to encourage the youth
offender to commit to positive change and self-improvement.
(c) A youth offender shall be considered for placement at a lower
security level than corresponds with his or her classification score
or placement in a facility that permits increased access to programs
based on the Institutional Classification Committee review and
factors including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) Recent in-custody behavior while housed in juvenile or adult
facilities.
(2) Demonstrated efforts of progress toward self-improvement in
juvenile or adult facilities.
(3) Family or community ties supportive of rehabilitation.
(4) Evidence of commitment to working toward self-improvement with
a goal of being a law-abiding member of society upon release.
(d) If the department determines, based on the review described in
subdivisions (b) and (c), that the youth offender may be
appropriately placed at a lower security level, the department shall
transfer the youth offender to a lower security level facility. If
the youth offender is denied a lower security level, then he or she
shall be considered for placement in a facility that permits
increased access to programs. If the department determines a youth
offender may appropriately be placed in a facility permitting
increased access to programs, the youth offender shall be transferred
to such a facility.
(e) If the youth offender demonstrates he or she is a safety risk
to inmates, staff, or the public, and does not otherwise demonstrate
a commitment to rehabilitation, the youth offender shall be
reclassified and placed at a security level that is consistent with
department regulations and procedures.
(f) A youth offender who at his or her initial youth offender
Institutional Classification Committee review is denied a lower
security level than corresponds with his or her placement score or
did not qualify for a placement permitting increased access to
programs due to previous incarceration history and was placed in the
highest security level shall nevertheless be eligible to have his or
her placement reconsidered pursuant to subdivisions (b) to (d),
inclusive, at his or her annual review until reaching 25 years of
age. If at an annual review it is determined that the youth offender
has had no serious rule violations for one year, the department shall
consider whether the youth would benefit from placement in a lower
level facility or placement permitting increased access to programs.
(g) The department shall review and, as necessary, revise existing
regulations and adopt new regulations regarding classification
determinations made pursuant to this section, and provide for
training for staff.
(h) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2015.